Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Revelation chapter 10 as we continue our study through the Word of God. In our last two studies we have looked at six of the seven trumpet judgments that have blow upon this earth with devastating affects. In the first four trumpet judgments we saw 1/3 of the earth’s vegetation destroyed; 1/3 of the oceans destroyed and the life within those oceans including 1/3 of the ships within those oceans; 1/3 of the fresh water supply was destroyed and for those who drink this water, many will die from it; we saw 1/3 of the sun, the moon and the stars struck in this judgment, reducing the sunlight or daylight by 33%.
If that was not bad enough, we are told in Revelation 8:13, “And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, ‘Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!’” In other words, if you thought those previous four trumpet judgments were bad, you haven’t seen anything yet! As we came to the fifth trumpet judgment we saw Satan unleash the most wicked fallen angels or demons. And for five months they will inflict deadly pain upon people like that of a scorpion sting, and yet, they will not be able to die! Death takes a holiday as people agonize in pain and can’t do anything to alleviate it, not even die!
Then, as we came to the sixth trumpet judgment we see four fallen angels going forth, being unleashed from the area of the Euphrates River and as they go forth with 200 million followers, they destroy 1/3 of the earth’s population by fire, smoke and brimstone! And yet, even after all of this, we are told in Revelation 9:20-21, “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” The heart of sinful man is very hard to break!
Now, as we move into chapter 10 there is another break from these judgments where some more details of the Tribulation Period are filled in. Yes, we have seen the cataclysmic events that occurred during the seven seal judgments and the six trumpet judgments so far, but there are other things going on, taking place during this period of time. And for John, and for us, it is a breather from the unspeakable destruction and devastation that will come upon the earth dwellers.
With that as our background, let’s begin reading in Revelation chapter 10, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us as we study His Word.
VERSE 1
Now as you read the description of this “mighty angel” it seems to be speaking of Jesus Christ. If you look at his description in chapter 1 of Revelation there are some similarities. And there are many who feel this is Jesus, but I am not one of them and I will tell you why.
John tells us that he saw “another mighty angel” and he uses the Greek word ALLOS for “another” and this word means another of the same kind. He is similar to the angels spoken of in Revelation chapter 9 and thus, he is not Jesus.
Let me show you the difference. In John 14:16 Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” Jesus, in speaking of the Holy Spirit, our Helper, our Comforter, He says “another helper” and He uses the same Greek word for “another.” He uses ALLOS. If Jesus used the Greek word HETEROS that would mean another of a different kind. But He didn’t. Thus, what Jesus is saying is that He is going to send another helper who is just like Him. What does that mean? It means that like Jesus, the Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Holy Trinity!
Now, in Romans 7:23 Paul uses the Greek word HETEROS for “another.” He says, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” This Greek word means another of a different kind. The Law was different than the Spirit of life. You see, the Law makes us aware of our sinful condition and it leads to condemnation and death. The Spirit gives us life as we receive the grace of God, which is extended to us through Jesus Christ!
So here in Revelation chapter 10 we see John linking this verse to that which he has already spoke of in Revelation 5:2, which says, “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?’” The word “strong” and the word “mighty” are the same Greek word, ISCHUROS, (is-koo-ros’). Thus, here is the point. The angel in Revelation chapter 5 was not Jesus Christ and the angel here in Revelation chapter 10 is not Jesus Christ, but you might say they were cut from the same cloth, they both are mighty or strong angels!
Now here is a question for you. Why does this angel’s description reflect the description of Jesus Christ, why are they similar? Think about that for a minute. The more time you spend with Jesus the more His nature will flow from your life. Remember all the time that Moses spent with the Lord and then, in Exodus 34:33-35 we are told, “And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.”
It is just like spending time in the sun, the more you are out in the sun the more people will see the suns affects upon your life – sunburn or a suntan, whatever the case may be. As you spend time in the Son of God, the more people will see the Son of God’s affects upon your life – His nature will flow forth.
Then why do some people spend time in the Word of God, they go to church, they go to Bible studies and yet, their lives seem unchanged. Folks, you can block out the affects of the sun by using sun block and you can block out the affects of the Son of God upon your life by hardening your heart, closing your eyes and blocking out what God is telling you. May we be open to God and allow His nature to flow from our lives!
VERSE 2
Many read this and see this giant angel placing one foot on the land and his other foot on the sea, but I don’t think that is the point that is being made here. Let me impress you here for a minute. Did you know I could place one foot on the sea and my other foot on the land! Those listening on the radio think I’m a giant. No, only 65 - okay, 56! But you see my point; you don’t have to be a giant to do this!
Then what is John’s point here? First of all this angel had a book in his hand, a message and thus, I believe the point that John is making is that this message is not for a select few, but it is universal in nature. Can I prove that? I think so, look at Revelation 10:11, the last verse of this chapter, which says, “And he said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.’” You see, the message in this book is for all to hear and not only to hear but to apply to their lives, to repent and return to the Lord! Without the application of these truths from this angel it is worthless to the person!
VERSES 3-4
The book of Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ in all of His glory as He returns to set-up His kingdom on this earth. This is not a sealed book but one we are to read and apply to our lives. In fact, in Revelation 1:3 we are told, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
And yet, here in Revelation chapter 10 John hears these seven thunders speak and as he is about to write down what they said, he was told to seal these words, don’t write them down. Now it is truly amazing that people try to speculate what these seven thunders said, but folks, that is foolish! If God wanted us to know, then He would have told us!
Why did God do this? Why did John even tell us that these seven thunders spoke and that he then could not write down what they said? Folks, there are some things we just are not going to know; we are not going to understand. God has His reasons and I am going to rest in that. I am not going to waste my time trying to figure out something that God doesn’t want me to know at this time. In fact, in Deuteronomy 29:29 we are told, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
This is a powerful point. We spend so much time trying to figure out things God doesn’t want us to know and yet, the things we do know of God and His desire for us, we don’t follow! We are responsible for the things that God has told us, and we need to keep them instead of trying to figure out those things that God doesn’t want us to know.
In Psalm 131:2, and this is from The Living Bible, we are told, “I am quiet now before the Lord, just as a child who is weaned from the breast. Yes, my begging has been stilled.” A child who is weaned from his mother’s breast has to learn to trust that she will provide for him even though the child may not fully understand what is happening. As we are still before the Lord, as we grow, we must learn to trust in Him apart from fully understanding what He is doing or why He is doing it. We just may not understand it, but can we trust in Him? It is as Walvoord wrote, “This illustrates the principle that while God has revealed much, there are secrets which God has not seen fit to reveal to man at this time.” I agree totally!
Guess what? We will hear what these seven thunders say, but when? When we are in heaven and we are watching these events of the Tribulation Period unfold before our eyes. Yes, these words God has sealed for a time, but there is coming a day when they will sound forth and we will hear what they say!
VERSES 5-7
The King James Version of the Bible puts verse 6 like this, and I don’t believe they are correct. It reads, “And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.” I think the New King James Version of the Bible has it correct and I like the way that The Living Bible puts this verse. It says, “and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it and the earth and all that it contains and the sea and its inhabitants, that there should be no more delay.” It is not that God is going to cause time to cease but that there would be no further delay, that God’s final judgment is coming.
Now when we think of a mystery we tend to think of something that no one knows. But that is not what this word means, Biblically speaking. It speaks of something that we don’t known but has been revealed to us by God. It is not something you could know by intuition or by your own personal investigation.
Paul, in speaking of the Rapture of the church said, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:51-57. You see, prior to God reveling this to Paul, the Rapture was unknown to man, but not to God of course!
In these verses John tells us that at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the mystery of God will be finished. The Greek word that John uses for “finished” is TELEO and it means to “accomplish, make an end, expire, full up, conclude.” What is this mystery that is about to be finished?
When Jesus came the first time He did not set-up a literal kingdom on this earth to rule and reign from. The kingdom of God is internal, God set-up His kingdom in our hearts as He became Lord and Savior of our lives, as the Holy Spirit indwelt us. But now the mystery will be completed. What the Old Testament prophets spoke of regarding the Messiah setting up His kingdom on this earth will come to pass as Jesus takes the kingdom that was internal and spiritual and makes it external and physical!
In Revelation 11:15 we see this spoke of, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” You see, the judgment of God will be complete and the Lord will return to set-up His kingdom and righteousness will fill this land. Yes, the mystery of the kingdom of God will be completed, for it will be here on the earth! Praise the Lord for that – we long for that day! It is as Habakkuk 2:14 says, “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.”
VERSES 8-10
Some equate this “little book” with the scroll spoken of in Revelation chapter 5 and 6, but again, I don’t think that is the correct way to look at this. That scroll in Revelation chapters 5 and 6 represented the title deed to the earth, and the Lord was the only one who can take that out of the Father’s right hand, He alone is worthy! This scroll here in Revelation chapter 10, I believe represents the Scriptures, the Word of God. And John is told to take this scroll out of the mighty angels hand and he does.
And John is then told to eat this scroll, and once again he does. Now some may read this and laugh at this. “What is John going to do, cut up this book and eat it? Maybe he could use a little salt or pepper for flavor!” That is just foolish. Have you ever devoured a book before? How did it taste? Just kidding! Obviously you didn’t eat it but you read it through, you took it into your life. In fact, the Greek word that John uses for “eat” is KATESTHIO, (kat-es-thee’-o) and it means to devour! Thus, the point here is that John is being told to take the Word of God into his innermost being, to digest it into his life, and that is something we should do! In fact, Jeremiah said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16.
As John ate this book, took it into his life, it was sweet. Folks, God’s Word is sweet, it is good for us, it is tasty you might say. It is like honey in your mouth! It is as Psalm 19:7-11 tells us, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.” You see, as we take in God’s Word into our lives there are those blessings of promises that God gives to us, words we can treasure, words we can hold onto, words we can be comforted by and-so-on.
You see, in keeping God’s Word there is great reward. There are blessings. God’s Word is sweet, it is refreshing, it is nourishing to our spiritual lives. But, if you refuse to keep God’s Word, then there is judgment that will come. You see, as you begin to digest the things of God you also see the consequences of disobedience. There is the message of judgment that is coming upon those who have rejected Jesus Christ. It is bitter when you realize what is going to happen to the lost. Judgment is coming and thus your heart should burn for the unsaved. It should be a wake-up call to the reality of what we should do - share the Gospel! Point people to Jesus!
We also see this in Ezekiel chapter 3, starting in verse 1, where we are told, “Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. Then He said to me: ‘Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.’ . . . ‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, “You shall surely die,” and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” Ezekiel 3:1-4, 17-19.
Ezekiel, like John, is told to eat God’s Word, and how sweet God’s Word is to those who believe, but judgment is coming upon those who refuse. Our responsibility is to tell others of Christ. Then it is up to them to either reject or accept the Gospel message. But judgment is coming on those who refuse to accept. You see, God’s Word contains sweet promises and assurances, but it also contains bitter warnings and prophecies of judgment!
There is another point I would like to make here and that is this. It is your responsibility to take in God’s Word. God will never force you, God will not thrust it down your throat, God will not force-feed you. God hands His Word to us and we must take it into our lives, we must have that desire to know God through His Word. It is as the Psalmist said, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. . . .” Psalm 42:1-2a.
Remember the manna or bread from heaven spoken of in Exodus chapter 16. God told the children of Israel that they must go out and collect enough for them to eat, only for one day. In a sense, that is what we do with God’s Word. We can’t say, “Hey, I read my quota for this week all in one day!” That won’t help you because you must daily take it in, you must daily feed upon God’s Word! The Lord said this to Joshua as He was instructing him, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8. In other words, seven days without the Word of God will make one WEAK!
Yes, God’s Word is bittersweet! There is the bitterness of judgment for those who reject Jesus and it is hard when family and friends close their hearts to the truths of God. But it is also filled with sweetness, filled with the promises of God to those who love Him! As the Psalmist said, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103. It is truly as Swete wrote, “Every revelation of God’s purposes . . . is ‘bitter-sweet,’ disclosing judgment as well as mercy.”
VERSE 11
How often do you hear people say, “Religion is personal, we don’t talk about that!” The Bible says the exact opposite. We are to talk about it, we are to share our faith with others. That is what this angel was telling John. Yes, don’t speak what the seven thunders uttered but speak forth the Words of God, give them the whole council of God, don’t hold back, don’t water it down!
Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17. I think we all believe that God’s Word is living, it is powerful, it is able to transform lives. We have seen it in our own lives! The problem comes, many times, when people don’t want to hear it and we just keep silent.
Listen again to what Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 4:1-5, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
You see, when people want to hear God’s Word, share it with them. When people don’t want to hear God’s Word, share it with them. Yes, they may not want to hear it, but they need to hear it. Don’t be obnoxious about it, but share it in love. I know my wife tells me things that I don’t always want to hear, but I need to hear. So too here with the Word of God. You see, we need to fulfill our ministry that God has given to us, the one that God has called us to do by speaking to all kinds of people from all walks of life about the Gospel message, the Good News of Jesus Christ!
As I close this evening let me leave you with these words to think about. You see, this chapter is an interlude filled with hope in the midst of judgment, and the hope is tinged with bitterness that reminds all Christians of their evangelical responsibility to warn the world of the day that is coming and point them to Jesus!
Thomas Paine, an immigrant to America in 1787, had leaped from obscurity to fame after writing some brilliant pamphlets on freedom. But then he made a fatal mistake. He began to write his “masterpiece” called The Age of Reason, which scoffed at Christianity.
“This will destroy the Bible,” he predicted. “Within 100 years, Bibles will be found only in museums or in must corners of second-hand bookstores.” His book was published in London in 1794. But it brought him so much misery and loneliness that he once said: “I would give worlds, if I had them, had The Age of Reason never been written.”
Paine became a bedridden invalid until his death, friendless and alone, in 1809. The Bible remains a best seller!
Many people have come and they have gone who have echoed the same words as Mr. Paine. They speak so boldly of the demise of God’s Word and yet, God’s Word continues on and they have returned to the dust of the earth. And God’s Word will continue to stand, even in the darkest days, as a light to point people to the true and living God, even during the Tribulation Period. It is as Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:35. May we never forget that!